Tonight, the Oakland City Council will convene its final budget discussion at a Special Hearing that starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The budget is not a plan that sits on a shelf. What the Council enacts tomorrow will determine how the City spends its money for the next 2 years. This is serious business. From the outset, I have encouraged my colleagues to work together to adopt a budget we c...an all stand behind. I reached out to Councilmembers Kalb and Kaplan to work on a proposal I call the “ALL-IN Budget” that reconciles the proposals introduced by Mayor Quan, President Kernighan and Councilmembers Brooks/Gallo/Reid. The ALL-IN Budget is a reflection of the collective wisdom of the Council and the public based on the feedback we’ve received during the budget hearings. In short our ALL-IN proposal: • Is Fiscally responsible > relies upon conservative revenue projections, sets aside $5.3 million for reserves and unfunded retirement liabilities and invests in much-needed capital repairs • Invests in our Future > wisely invests one-time funds to limit the impacts of Federal cuts to Head Start, eliminates proposed cuts to senior, youth and recreation centers, and commits the City to fund programming at the newly constructed West Oakland Youth Center • Supports economic development and job creation > provides funding for the East Oakland Day-labor center, increases funding for the West Oakland Job Resource Center, provides funding for a new economic analyst and a grant writer, funds a critically needed Nexus study to create certainty for support future development as well as sets-aside some funds for consideration in on-going employee compensation negotiations; • Makes public safety the #1 Priority > funds Increase police staffing to nearly 700 officers over the next 2 years; adds 6 civilian investigators to help solve crimes and adds 5 new 911-dispatch positions to OPD to improve call times; continues contracting with California Highway Patrol (CHP); Funds more code compliance inspectors, illegal dumping crews and graffiti abatement and homeless encampment clean-up work and restores funding the Animal Shelter JOIN IN. Tonight’s vote is critical. If you believe as I do that we can work together to make Oakland a safe, clean, and more prosperous City, please encourage the Council to unite behind this vision. Email the Council at: Council@oaklandnet Speak: During public comment on the budget (Item #5), you can click here to sign up in advance. Speak or give your time to another ally. For validated parking, please use the Clay Street Garage (on Clay Street between 14th and 15th). Many speakers are anticipated for Thursday’s meeting, so we advise signing up to speak in advance and arriving early to get a seat. All In - It’s a balanced budget that meets our needs within our means.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:40:40 +0000
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